Too-Nice Williamsburg Man Burglarized by Strangers He Befriended

WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN — A North Williamsburg resident's apartment was burglarized by three strangers after he met them outside and invited the suspects (pictured above) into his apartment last weekend, according to the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

The 34-year-old victim was out and about on Sunday Aug. 14, around 2:30 a.m., police said, when he invited the suspects inside his apartment near Bedford Avenue and North 12 Street, next to McCarren Park.

The victim then fell asleep with his new buddies still inside his apartment, police said.

But when he awoke around noon later that day, his credit card, $5,000 Rolex watch and $3,000 worth of jewelry were missing, the victim told police.

According to detectives, the three suspects "were seen later that day on store surveillance cameras using the victim's credit card to make $1,400 in unauthorized charges at stores in the vicinity of West 125th Street, including a $750 purchase at Ballers USA, located at 252 West 125th St.."

This burglary went down within the NYPD's 94th Precinct, which covers North Williamsburg and all of Greenpoint. According to official police statistics, through Sept. 4, the rate of grand larcenies — aka, thefts with high-value loot — was almost unchanged in the 94th compared to the same time period last year.

Through that date, 38 grand larcenies had been recorded in the precinct, compared to 37 grand larcenies during the same period in 2015.

Anyone with information about the robbery described above can confidentially report it using the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers website or by anonymously calling the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

Los hispanohablantes pueden llamar 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).

Tips can also be text-messaged to the NYPD by texting 274637 (CRIMES), then entering TIP577.

Lead images courtesy of the NYPD